DNA Directed Synthesis of Fluorescent Silver Clusters

小规模研究小银团如何与DNA相互作用。总体目标是通过改变DNA序列来控制这些强发射金属物种的荧光光谱。这些发色团在几个方面都是创新的。首先，具有不同发射光谱的发色团的制备简单且成本低廉，因为核碱基控制簇的形成。其次，DNA簇合物由于其被DNA包裹并且由于其小的尺寸而具有生物相容性。第三，这些团簇具有良好的光谱性质，可用于生物环境中的成像。迪克森教授在高灵敏度光谱学和DNA阵列领域的专业知识对于通过高通量并行筛选一系列全面的序列来确定最佳序列至关重要。佩蒂教授在DNA热力学和结构方面的背景将是进一步研究反应条件对团簇形成和光谱影响的基础。银-DNA偶联物的荧光光物理参数将显示碱基顺序和溶液环境对DNA-银簇合物的影响。该项目将通过开展与生物光子学相关的创新研究来培养本科生和研究生。福尔曼大学的本科生课程和佐治亚理工学院的研究生课程之间建立的卓有成效的合作将为学习和教学提供多种机会。学生将学会通过在专业会议上发表演讲和出版主要文献来组织和传播他们的研究活动的成果。随着新的仪器和实验将被整合到物理化学和纳米科学实验室中，课堂上将产生更广泛的影响。一名博士后助理将在一家专注于本科生的机构指导未来的教师职业生涯。

0853692Petty Investigate how small silver clusters interact with DNA. The overall goal is to control the fluorescence spectra of these strongly emitting metal species by altering the DNA sequence. These chromophores are innovative in several respects. First, chromophores with different emission spectra are straightforward and inexpensive to prepare because the nucleobases control cluster formation. Second, the DNA-clusters complexes are biocompatible due to their encapsulation by DNA and due to their small size. Third, the clusters have favorable spectroscopic properties for imaging in biological environments. The expertise of Professor Dickson in the areas of high-sensitivity spectroscopy and DNA arrays will be critical for identifying the optimal sequences via high-throughput parallel screening of a comprehensive range of sequences. Professor Petty's background in DNA thermodynamics and structure will be the basis of the further scrutiny of the effect of reaction conditions on the formation and spectra of the clusters. The fluorescence photophysical parameters of the silver-DNA conjugates will show how both the base sequence and the solution environment influence the DNA-silver cluster adducts. This project will develop undergraduate and graduate students by conducting novel research related to biophotonics. The established and productive collaboration between the undergraduate program at Furman and the graduate program at Georgia Tech will provide multiple opportunities for learning and teaching. The students will learn to organize and disseminate the outcomes of their research activities through presentations at professional meetings and through publication in the primary literature. A wider impact will be in the classroom, as the new instruments and experiments will be integrated into the physical chemistry and nanoscience laboratories. A postdoctoral associate will be mentored for a future faculty career at an undergraduate-focused institution.